Tropical
planting Create a bold look in your back garden with exotic evergreens that provide low-effort drama and bold interest all year round
Flowers For tropical-looking blooms you can’t beat passiflora, the passion flower. Eccremocarpus (Chilean glory flower) is a mile-a-minute grower, with tubular orange flowers from late spring until autumn. Plant in sun.
Climbers No exotic garden is complete without climbers: they enhance the ambience of abundance you want. You don’t need to hunt out rare species: many hardy climbers fit the look.
42 YOUR PERFECT GARDEN
THE BEST Colour For pops of brilliant colour choose permanent plants that fit the exotic look with vivid flowers and bold foliage. Cape fuchsias (phygelius) are stronggrowing evergreen shrubs with orange, deep pink or yellow flowers. Kniphofia, the red hot poker, has striking, colourful blooms and Verbena bonariensis adds purple accents.
Dicksonia antarctica (tree fern) Gives an instantly tropical feel with its strong presence. It prefers shade, but protect it in winter with hessian. H: 10m (32.8ft) TIP: Water into the crown of the leaves.
